Big Lake Report!

[Freebird87]

Back from the great adventure down south. Thanks to Shadow and my neighbor Chris who grew up down there, I was able to avoid the pitfalls of a cold start trying to find areas to fish.

After checking into Spicers motel Wed afternoon, which is a nice place by the way and gave me a hefty military discount without asking (thanks!), I launched at their ramp and headed out to explore. I made it across the lake even though there was a stiff southwest wind that kicked up a good chop, and hit the first wier going south from Commissary point on the east side. After trying many different soft plastics, I switched to a dead shrimp on the bottom by the wier. Right away, I caught fish --4 reds and about 10-12 black drum. I did manage 1 trout on a jig later. I tried further south to the next wier, but only caught black drum there.
Wed night the cold front came through, and the resulting wind kept me off the lake Thursday except for the bayou and ship channel, but even then the wind was too strong to fish anywhere effectively, even while on anchor. I did fish the bayou Thursday evening and saw reds crashing bait along the banks, ands threw everything I had at them without a hit.
Friday morning was the day! With a light breeze, the lake was in fine shape, and I made it to the southern-most wier early, and caught a dozen or so reds on Saltwater Assassin shads (morning glory and chicken-on-a-chain colors), gulp shrimp under a Cajun Thunder rattle cork, and shrimp. I also picked up a drum and a trout. I tried a few other areas for trout, mainly long point and nine-mile cut, without any luck. I did see 1 guy catch about a three-lb trout at nine-mile cut, but that was the only one.
I hit some of the rock rip-rap along the shipping channel, throwing the jig and SW assassin, and picked up 2 more reds in about 30 minutes before heading back to Spicers to check out and head back north.

Thanks again to Dwayne and Chris for their help, and I would recommend Spicers motel if anyone is thinking about staying down there. I didn't find any restaurants close, so bring food, and consider the kitchenette rooms they have to cook. I lived on microwave fare for the 2 days!

By the way, the motel is open, but you have to call to get a hold of Spicers on weekdays before 1 May. The bait shop will open then, and they will be around. No live bait for sale anywhere until 1 May, either, when the shrimp season opens. Also, the ramp fee is $5 per axle, but free if you stay with them.
Pictures coming when my wife downloads them off the camera!

[shadow]

Thanks for the detailed report Lynden! I am sorry I couldn't get up with you but my wife asked me wed. afternoon if I could bring my daughter to Gymnastics and my family is the 1 thing that comes before fishing. I am glad you got on some fish sounds like you knew what you were doing! Again, thanks for the report and I can tell you that I am probably happier than you are that you caught fish! :D Hate to see some one drive that far and not get on some fish.

[Freebird87]

No sweat Dwayne, same here as far as family goes! Thanks for all the help!